Office of Diversion Control

US Department of

. .

Justice

Drug Enforcement Administration .

www.dea.gov

U.S. Department of Justice

Drug Enforcement Administration

Office of Diversion Control

www.dea.gov

www.DEAdiversion.usdoj.gov

US Department of

. .

Justice

Drug Enforcement Administration .
ANABOLIC STEROIDS,

A DANGEROUS AND ILLEGAL WAY

TO SEEK ATHLETIC DOMINANCE

AND BETTER APPEARANCE

March 2004 1

WHAT ARE ANABOLIC STEROIDS?

Anabolic steroids are synthetically produced variants of the

naturally occurring male hormone testosterone. Both males and

females have testosterone produced in their bodies: males in the

testes, and females in the ovaries and other tissues. The full name

for this class of drugs is androgenic (promoting masculine characteristics) anabolic (tissue building) steroids (the class of drugs).

Some of the most abused steroids include Deca-Durabolin®,

Durabolin®, Equipoise®, and Winstrol®. The common street (slang)

names for anabolic steroids include arnolds, gym candy, pumpers,

roids, stackers, weight trainers, and juice.

WHY DO PEOPLE ABUSE STEROIDS?

Anabolic steroids are primarily used by bodybuilders, athletes,

and fitness “buffs” who claim steroids give them a competitive

advantage and/or improve their physical performance. Steroids

are purported to increase lean body mass, strength and aggressiveness. Steroids are also believed to reduce recovery time

between workouts, which makes it possible to train harder and

thereby further improve strength and endurance. Some people

who are not athletes also take steroids to increase their endurance,

muscle size and strength, and reduce body fat which they believe

improves personal appearance.

This publication is authorized for public dissemination.

All material in this publication is in the public domain and

may be reproduced without the expressed permission of the

Drug Enforcement Administration.

Citation of the source is appreciated.

March 2004

Presented as a public service by:

Drug Enforcement Administration

Office of Diversion Control

Washington, D.C. 20537
Anabolic Steroids, A Dangerous and Illegal Way to Seek Athletic Dominance and Better Appearance

WHERE DO YOU GET STEROIDS?

Doctors may prescribe steroids to patients for legitimate medical

purposes such as loss of function of testicles, breast cancer, low

red blood cell count, delayed puberty and debilitated states resulting from surgery or sickness. Veterinarians administer steroids

to animals (e.g. cats, cattle, dogs, and horses) for legitimate

purposes such as to promote feed efficiency, and to improve

weight gain, vigor, and hair coat. They are also used in veterinary

practice to treat anemia and counteract tissue breakdown during

illness and trauma. For purposes of illegal use there are several

sources; the most common illegal source is from smuggling steroids into the United States from other countries such as Mexico

and European countries. Smuggling from these areas is easier

because a prescription is not required for the purchase of steroids.

Less often steroids found in the illicit market are diverted from

legitimate sources (e.g. thefts or inappropriate prescribing) or

produced in clandestine laboratories.

HOW ARE STEROIDS TAKEN?

Anabolic steroids dispensed for legitimate medical purposes are

administered several ways including intramuscular or subcutaneous

injection, by mouth, pellet implantation under the skin and by

application to the skin (e.g. gels or patches). These same routes

are used for purposes of abusing steroids, with injection and oral

administration being the most common. People abusing steroids

may take anywhere from 1 to upwards of a 100 times normal

therapeutic doses of anabolic steroids. This often includes taking

two or more steroids concurrently, a practice called “stacking.”

Abusers will often alternate periods (6 to 16 weeks in length) of

high dose use of steroids with periods of low dose use or no drug

at all. This practice is called “cycling.”

Doses of anabolic steroids used will depend on the particular

objectives of the steroid user. Athletes (middle or high school,

college, professional, and Olympic) usually take steroids for a

limited period of time to achieve a particular goal. Others such as

bodybuilders, law enforcement officers, fitness buffs, and body

guards usually take steroids for extended periods of time. The

length of time that steroids stay in the body varies from a couple

of days to more than 12 months.

PHYSICAL & PSYCHOLOGICAL DANGERS

There is increasing concern regarding possible serious health

problems that are associated with the abuse of steroids, including

both short-term and long-term side effects. The short-term

adverse physical effects of anabolic steroid abuse are fairly well

known. Short-term side effects may include sexual and reproductive disorders, fluid retention, and severe acne. The short-term

side effects in men are reversible with discontinuation of steroid

use.

Masculinizing effects seen in women, such as deepening of the

voice, body and facial hair growth, enlarged clitoris, and baldness

are not reversible. The long-term adverse physical effects of

anabolic steroid abuse in men and in women, other than masculinizing effects, have not been studied, and as such, are not known.

However, it is speculated that possible long-term effects may

include adverse cardiovascular effects such as heart damage and

stroke.

POSSIBLE PHYSICAL SIDE EFFECTS INCLUDE THE

FOLLOWING:

• High blood cholesterol levels – high blood cholesterol levels may

lead to cardiovascular problems

• Severe acne

• Thinning of hair and baldness

• Fluid retention

• High blood pressure

2 March 2004 March 2004 3
Anabolic Steroids, A Dangerous and Illegal Way to Seek Athletic Dominance and Better Appearance

POSSIBLE PHYSICAL SIDE EFFECTS INCLUDE THE

FOLLOWING: (CONT’D)

• Liver disorders (liver damage and jaundice)

• Steroids can affect fetal development during pregnancy

• Risk of contracting HIV and other blood-borne diseases from

sharing infected needles

• Sexual & reproductive disorders:

Males Females

• Atrophy (wasting away of • Menstrual irregularities

 tissues or organs) of the • Infertility

 testicles • Masculinizing effects such as

• Loss of sexual drive facial hair, diminished breast

• Diminished or decreased size, permanently deepened

sperm production voice, and enlargement of

• Breast and prostate the clitoris.

enlargement

• Decreased hormone levels

• Sterility

POSSIBLE PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTURBANCES INCLUDE

THE FOLLOWING:

• Mood swings (including manic-like symptoms leading to

violence)

• Impaired judgment (stemming from feelings of invincibility)

• Depression

• Nervousness

• Extreme irritability

• Delusions

• Hostility and aggression

LAWS AND PENALTIES FOR ANABOLIC STEROID

ABUSE

The Anabolic Steroids Control Act of 1990 placed anabolic steroids

into Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) as of

February 27, 1991. Under this legislation, anabolic steroids are

defined as any drug or hormonal substance chemically and pharmacologically related to testosterone (other than estrogens,

progestins, and corticosteroids) that promotes muscle growth.

The possession or sale of anabolic steroids without a valid prescription is illegal. Simple possession of illicitly obtained anabolic

steroids carries a maximum penalty of one year in prison and a

minimum $1,000 fine if this is an individual’s first drug offense.

The maximum penalty for trafficking is five years in prison and a

fine of $250,000 if this is the individual’s first felony drug offense.

If this is the second felony drug offense, the maximum period of

imprisonment and the maximum fine both double. While the above

listed penalties are for federal offenses, individual states have also

implemented fines and penalties for illegal use of anabolic steroids.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC), National Collegiate

Athletic Association (NCAA), and many professional sports leagues

(e.g. Major League Baseball, National Basketball Association,

National Football League (NFL), and National Hockey League) have

banned the use of steroids by athletes, both because of their

potential dangerous side effects and because they give the user an

unfair advantage. The IOC, NCAA, and NFL have also banned the

use of steroid precursors (e.g. androstenedione) by athletes for the

same reason steroids were banned. The IOC and professional

sports leagues use urine testing to detect steroid use both in and

out of competition.

4 March 2004 March 2004 5
Anabolic Steroids, A Dangerous and Illegal Way to Seek Athletic Dominance and Better Appearance

STEROID ALTERNATIVES

A variety of non-steroid drugs are commonly found within the illicit

anabolic steroid market. These substances are primarily used for

one or more of the following reasons: 1) to serve as an alternative

to anabolic steroids; 2) to alleviate short-term adverse effects

associated with anabolic steroid use; or 3) to mask anabolic

steroid use. Examples of drugs serving as alternatives to anabolic

steroids include clenbuterol, human growth hormone, insulin,

insulin-like growth factor, and gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB).

Examples of drugs used to treat the short-term adverse effects of

anabolic steroid abuse are erythropoietin, human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG), and tamoxifen. Also, diuretics and uricosuric

agents may be used to mask steroid use.

Over the last few years, a number of metabolic precursors to

either testosterone or nandrolone have been marketed as dietary

supplements in the U.S. These dietary supplements can be purchased in health food stores without a prescription. Some of these

substances include androstenedione, androstenediol, norandrostenedione, norandrostenediol, and dehydroepiandtrosterone

(DHEA), which can be converted into testosterone or a similar

compound in the body. Whether they promote muscle growth is

not known.

ARE ANABOLIC STEROIDS ADDICTIVE?

An undetermined percentage of steroid abusers may become

addicted to the drug, as evidenced by their continuing to take

steroids in spite of physical problems, negative effects on social

relations, or nervousness and irritability. Steroid users can

experience withdrawal symptoms such as mood swings, fatigue,

restlessness, and depression. Untreated, some depressive symptoms associated with anabolic steroid withdrawal have been known

to persist for a year or more after the abuser stops taking the

drugs.

6 March 2004 March 2004 7

HOW CAN WE CURTAIL THEIR USE?

The most important aspect to curtailing abuse is education concerning dangerous and harmful side effects, and symptoms of

abuse. Athletes and others must understand that they can excel in

sports and have a great body without steroids. They should focus

on getting proper diet, rest, and good overall mental and physical

health. These things are all factors in how the body is shaped and

conditioned. Millions of people have excelled in sports and look

great without steroids. For additional information on steroids

please see our website at www.DEAdiversion.usdoj.gov